Feature Story
Professors Karen Walker, Lora Knight, and Arlene Fuentes Retire After Two Decades of Dedicated Service
After over 60 combined years of excellent teaching and dedicated service at Southern Virginia University, Professor of Family and Human Development Karen Walker, Professor of History Lora Knight, and Assistant Professor of Spanish Arlene Fuentes each will be retiring at the end of the 2025-26 academic year.
Karen Walker | Professor of Family and Human Development
Southern Virginia University has honored professor Karen Walker with emeritus status. Walker joined the Family and Human Development program in 2007 and has taught courses in Child and Adolescent Development, Early Childhood, Intervention, Infant Development, Parenting, and Family Policy. She was a faculty participant for travel study trips to France and Italy and has served as the program coordinator for the last three years.
“At SVU, you aren’t just teaching; you are building lifelong relationships,” said Walker. “I’ve been able to truly know my students. I always tried to go into the classroom prayerfully, and it has been a treasure to help my students plan their futures, write recommendations, and maintain those bonds long after they leave. That’s what makes this work so special.”
Outside of the classroom, Walker dedicated her time to the academic growth of the University by serving on several committees, including the admissions committee from 2008–12 and university retention committee from 2015–17. She also served as an associate provost and on the president’s council for two years and on the academic affairs council for five years.
As Vice President and later Director of Educational Research and Development, Walker would research critical issues for the university, which were then used in policy decisions. This included extensive research on teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the university moving back to in-person classes. Walker also developed the course Reading for the Liberal Arts designed to bridge the gap for students who arrive with high potential but require additional support.
“My research showed me just how important it is for the University to support students who have great potential but need a little help at the beginning of their careers,” said Walker. “We have an ethical responsibility to help every student be successful in their first semester and beyond. I got to watch this class make a significant difference in many students’ lives, helping them catch up and feel they can truly continue and succeed in their education.”
Walker received her Ph.D. in Human Services from Walden University and a Bachelor of Science from Brigham Young University. Before joining SVU, she was a Coordinator/Discussion Leader for the Women’s Center at the University of Richmond and taught at Clark County Community College and Boise State University. Her published works include a paper, titled “Marital Adjustment in Mormon and non-Mormon Marriages” and a book, “The Deep Learning Academic Success Planner,” designed to support collegiate achievement.
Lora Knight | Professor of History
A member of SVU’s faculty since 2005, Lora Knight has been honored with the designation of professor emeritus. A pillar in the History program, she has taught courses in History of the Holocaust, Western Civilization II, Gender in Modern Europe, and Historical Methods and served as the program coordinator for ten years.
“I’ve really enjoyed being able to get to know my students and see their progression,” said Knight. “To see a student come in as a freshman, uncertain and still figuring things out, and then graduate having completed a senior project they never imagined themselves capable of—that really warms the cockles of your heart.”
Knight was also a vital part of creating the university’s chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, serving as the first advisor for many years, and mentored students as they prepared for and won in the society’s regional conferences.
“I had been involved in Phi Alpha Theta as a graduate student and loved it, but we didn’t have one here at SVU when I joined,” she said. “Professor McDonnell was the chair at the time, and so we worked together to establish a chapter here. It was really rewarding to see them engage with the broader academic community and succeed.”
Knight also emphasized the importance of critical thinking in today’s world. “Ideas matter. Ideas have consequences,” she said. “We’re bombarded with information, and students need to be able to analyze it, determine what’s true, and remain open-minded enough to keep searching for truth. Analytical reasoning and strong writing skills are essential.”
Her research centered on women and eugenics in Germany and the United States, and she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship with the German-American Fulbright Commission in 2007–08. Her scholarly work includes several academic book reviews, and a book chapter on American women’s history from 1920–45, and articles on the history of feminist thought.
Knight earned her Ph.D. in Modern European History from the University of Utah and her B.A. in History with a minor in German from Brigham Young University. Prior to joining SVU, she taught at the University of Utah in both History and Gender Studies.
Arlene Fuentes | Assistant Professor of Spanish
Arlene Fuentes joined Southern Virginia University in 2004, and for the last 22 years has been a dedicated member of the Spanish program. She has taught courses in Beginning Spanish, Intermediate Spanish, Spanish Grammar Review, Advanced Spanish Grammar, Culture of the Spanish-Speaking World, and Spanish for the Health Professions.
“One funny memory I have is walking into class on April Fool’s Day and finding all the students facing the back—I didn’t expect it at all, and it was great fun,” she said. “Our Spanish classes often became like a family. I really got to know my students, and I’ve loved watching them grow—not just in college, but later as they got married and built families of their own.”
Fuentes was a founding member of the University’s chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and served as its secretary for several years. In 2019, she was named President-Elect of the organization and was recognized as a Professor of the Semester at SVU.
“I try to teach my students respect and acceptance of other people and their cultures,” she said. “Even when customs seem unfamiliar, it’s important to stay open-minded, be willing to learn, and develop a genuine curiosity about the world, other cultures, and different ways of life.”
Fuentes also led travel study experiences to Spain and Costa Rica, helping SVU students immerse themselves in Spanish language and culture. Prior to joining SVU, she served as an adjunct instructor of Spanish at Utah State University, where she also worked as a graduate and undergraduate teaching assistant.
Early in her career, she was nominated as Teaching Assistant of the Year by Utah State University’s College of Humanities. She earned her Master of Second Language Teaching and a Bachelor of Spanish with a minor in English from Utah State University, and an Associate of Science degree from Snow College.